Hip band seeks cool cats

They’ve played parades, East Park, Castle Farms, and while they are as good as they are diverse, they’re looking for even more musicians.

So you haven’t blown the dust off the old trombone in 40 years; and maybe that tuba has been holding up a corner of the couch—no matter, according to Charlevoix City Band Director Gary Stutzman.

“We’ll take people that want to come and play at all skill levels,” he said. “We are really wide open: our instrumentation is a full symphonic band with flutes, clarinets, sax, trombones, baritones, percussion.”

For more than 100 years the city band has been playing at festivals thanks to the volunteer efforts of local musicians who want little more than to have fun, fellowship and an opportunity to play in front of a crowd.

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“In a section of four tubas, I play fifth chair,” joked tuba player Ron Willey. “Whereas my wife is first chair alto sax.”

He added, “We’ve got the total gamut from total professional to rank beginner—it’s a nice variety and I’ve got a lot of friends associated with it.”

While some players have been in the band for 40 or 50 years, newcomer Leslie Cunningham was recently encouraged to join.

“My kids got me a flute for my 60th birthday and my first thought was ‘damn, I’ve got to learn how to play,’” she said. “But, it’s been great. I am learning new things every day and I am learning that music is a wonderful stress reliever.”

Cunningham added that prospective band mates should join because, “It’s a great way to stay young and give something back to their community.”

Cunningham said she hopes to learn Stars and Stripes Forever on the piccolo.

“Everybody’s welcome, no matter what their skill level,” she said. “They’re only going to get better.”

According to trombone player Steve Kroll, getting better sometimes means more than just becoming a better musician.

There is a tremendous sense of accomplishment,” said Kroll, who was unsure he’d ever be able to play again after his stroke. “In just a few months, I was able to get my chops (skills) back.”

Kroll may be new to the band, but his musical career started nearly 40 years ago while he was stationed in Texas for two years after being drafted into the Vietnam War.

After being a member of the band for an armored division, he taught music in Texas for several years.

To join the band, simply show up at 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday at the Charlevoix Middle School band room.

The Charlevoix City Band’s first concert will 8 p.m., June 30 with a patriotic concert to celebrate the Fourth of July.

“We don’t do auditions,” Stutzman said. “The band has a place for every level—we don’t restrict people from playing, even if they can’t play all the music.”